history of the greenhouse gas problem

"This is the sort of evidence that has lead at least some scientists to conclude that the signature of the increasing green house effect is already here -- not just something calculated for the 21st century, but here now."

Carl Sagan, January, 1990.
(211)

Hints that somthing is amiss

Edith's checkerspot butterfly's range extended north; coral reefs bleaching worldwide.

(212-213)

signal
carbon 13 isotopes in marine sediments are consistent with a major gas release
acts as a tracer of warmer ocean temperatures and a release of methane (from a cold trap)

(221)

impact
17-43% loss of wetlands (EPA) due to a 2 foot sea level rise.

(245)

What's wrong | Signal | Policies | Needs

Political agreements to reduce carbon dioxide pollution

Kyoto Protocol (1997): Nations C02 emissions
USA 7% reduction
Japan 6% reduction
EUC 8% reduction

How: Set an energy course for decades to come.

… coal fired plants converted to natural gas,
… fuel efficient automobiles,
… ending fossil fuel subsidies that keep priced of oil and coal artificially low!

"immensely important turning point." Adams (NRDC)

"historic landmark in environmental protection." Clapp (NET)

"we are dancers in the ring, unable to see the beginning the middle or the end."

Eleven major US corporations: joined the Pew Center for Global Change

(271)

Whirlpool, 3M, Toyota, Sunoco, United Technologies, Lockheed-Martin
agreeing that:
"enough is known of the scientific and environmental impacts of climate change for us to take actions to address the consequences....to implement market-based mechanisms were adopted in principle."

i.e. saving and replanting forests. "no panacea" -is necessary -- but not sufficient-
cleaner technology and reduce our dependence on fossil fuel

Kazakhstan and Argentina have agreed voluntarily to cut emissions.

We need:
financial incentives, technological research, demonstration projects at cutting greenhouse gas emissions

"...polls show that up to two-thirds of the voting public are deeply concerned about the future of the environment."

(276)

Henry Pollack, U of Mich., physicist: "The Earth seems to have developed a fever,"

(277)

other sources

What's wrong | Signal | Policies | Needs